Raliway budget is historic: Lalu

Patna, Feb 27 (IANS) An upbeat Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Wednesday described the railway budget he presented Tuesday as “historic” and took a dig at the opposition for criticising it. “The railway budget is a historic one, not an election-oriented as termed by the opposition,” an elated Lalu Prasad told newspersons here at the official residence of his wife Rabri Devi, who is Bihar’s Leader of Opposition.

“We have presented a poor people-friendly and business-friendly budget which has received widespread appreciation from one and all.”

Lalu Prasad, who reached here Wednesday afternoon, was given a rousing welcome by hundreds of railway porters, for whom he has opened the job opportunity as railway gangmen.

“They (the opposition) have nothing to say except negative things when a historic railway budget has resulted in buoyancy in the stock market,” he said.

He said the railway budget had disappointed his political rivals as they were jealous of his popularity after its presentation.

He also took a dig at his archrival, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who was the railway minister in the earlier government.

“It is now official that Nitish Kumar proved to be a flop railway minister,” Lalu Prasad said.